Straw matting.



PATENTED JANQzz, 1907.'

F. B. ARROUQUIER.

STRAW MATTING.

APPLIOATION 111.31) 116.13.1903.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRICK E. ARROUQUIER, OF WES'IBROOK,` MAINE, ASSIGNOR, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO GOODALL MATTING COMPANY, A OOR- PORATION OF MAINE.

STRAW NIATTING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1907.

Application filed August 13,1903. Serial No. 169.823.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDRICK E. ARROU- QUIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Westbrook, county of Cumberland, State of Maine, have invented an Improvement in Straw Matting, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to the structure or weave of straw matting or similar fabrics where the weft consists of short lengths, such as straws, grasses, Sac.; and it more particularly relates to the`construction of the selvage whereby the edges of the matting are finished in a strong, even, firm, and sightly manner without any danger of unraveling. The turned-in ends of the filling-straws all appear upon the lower surface of the fabric, and the construction is such that any undue thickness at the edge is avoided.

In the drawings I have shown in a more or less diagrammatic manner in an exaggerated form for the purpose of clearness two different weaves of straw matting in connection with the selvage, which constitutes'a feature of the present invention.

Figure l represents a piece of matting, showing the warps in cross-section and (with the dotted lines) in substantially the position they would occupy when the straw is shot through the shed from the left, the full line showing the end of the straw bent back in the manner hereinafter described. Fig. 2 is a view similar vto Fig. 1, but illustrating the fillingstraw shot .through the shed from the right-hand side of the loom. Fig. 8 is a view in perspective, illustrating in somewhat open position the general arrangement of the warps and straws in the completed matting. Fig. 4 is a view illustrating in the same manneras Fig. 1 another form of matting having substantially the same selvage. Fig. 5 is a view showing the fillingstraw of Fig. 4 in about the position. it would occupy after beating upA in the completed matting, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a piece of matting formed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, the warps forming the body of the shed are lettered a b. The arrangement of n the warps thus lettered has nothing to do be of any usual or desired form. They are here shown as alternating in the center of the matting two up, two down, two up, two down, &c., with single warps alternating up and down near the edges. The selvagecords c, usually larger than the warps, are shown at each edge, and lying next thereto are the warp-cords d, which, since they are involved in the formation of the selvage proper, I have herein termed auxiliary or supplemental threads or cords. These alternate in position with the selvage-cords c and, if desired, may be made slightly smaller than the regular warps a b. Next to the auxiliary or supplemental threads or cords d d are the cords e e, which by reason of the manner in which they form the selvage I have herein termed turn-in threads or cords.

It is unnecessary to describe the manner of weaving a fabric such as herein illustrated, since it is well known to those skilled in the art and may be formed in any usual or desired manner. Since, however, the straws usually employed are considerably larger at one end than at the other, it is desirable to feed the straws alternately first from one side and then from the other, with the butts lyingin opposite directions in order that the matting may be woven evenly. It is also preferable to turn over only the smaller or thinner end of the straw in forming the selvage, since this is sufficient to hold the'straw in place and the turned end occupies a smaller space.

The matting is shown in the drawings with its face or right side uppermost; but it may be woven with either side uppermost, and I prefer to weave it with the wrong side uppermost to facilitate the mechanical trimming of the ends of the straws.'

The turn-in thread or cord e is manipulated by mechanism acting independently of the mechanisln for manipulating the warps and in such a manner as to allow it to passentirely aroundv the salvage-cord c from the position shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 tothe position shown in full lines.

Prior to an insertion of a straw from the left-hand side 'with its larger or coarser end foremost the shed is opened, as shown in Fig.

IOO

` warps in the usual manner.

l, with the turn-in cord e in the dotted-line position. In this position the straw passing under the turn-in cord lies out straight, as shown in the dotted lines. The turn-in cord, is then operated to carry the smaller end of the straw around the` selvage-cord c under the auxiliary or supplemental thread or cord d and into substantially the position shown in Fig. l, when the turn-in cord cbecomesa warp and in the next pick (see the left-hand end of Fig. 2) is woven into the fabric as a warp. The larger end of the straw is interwoven with the cords e, d, and c, acting as When the straw is inserted from the right-hand side, as shown in Fig. 2, the operation is exactly the opposite of that described. In thismanner the ends of the straws are alternately turned back at each edge of the fabric. The ends not turned back by the turn-in cord project downwardly from between the selvage-cord c and the auxiliary cord d. After beating up the projectingfends of the filling-straws are trimmed off close to the body of the fabric when the structure is substantially as shown in Fig. 3, allowance being made for the opening up in the drawing to show the arrangement of the warps and filling-straw.

It will be seen that the selvage is formed by the selvage-cord c, the auxiliary cord d, and the turn-in cord e, the ends of alternate straws when viewed from the top passing l around and under the selvage-cord, under the auxiliary cord, and over the turn-in cord and at the ends are not interwoven with the body of the matting, but project downwardly into position where they will be readily trimmed off. There is thus formed a neat and smooth selvage without the appearance of the ends of the straws at the top surface.

In Figs. Ll, 5, and 6 I have illustrated asimilar form of matting in which the warps a and b alternate, one up and lone down, throughout the width; but as inthe previous case any variation in thisV arrangement desired may be made. I have shown in these latter figures lthe warp next adjacent the turn-in cord lying on the same side of the fabric as the turn-in cord itself, while in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the corresponding warp is shown as lying on the opposite side from the turn-in cord. Either arrangement may be used as desired. I have also illustrated in connection with Fig. 4 two wires ff, one near each side of andparallel to the edge of the matting, v. hich form no part of the matting itself, but are used in the weaving. These wires are so arranged as to hold the smaller ends of the iilling-straws when the turn-in cord e is passing from the position which is has prior to the nsertion of the straw to the position which it has in the completed fabric. It is found that by the use of the wires ff the accuracy of the action `of the turn-in cord is assured, the end of the straw is kept under control,

and prevented from even accidentally becoming woven into the body of the matting, and, furthermore, the end of the straw is given a decided set in a direction back toward the selvage-cord, as shown in Fig` 5. In this latter figure the matting is represented With the filling-straw beaten up, and after the straw has passed away from the influence of the wires ff by reason of the winding-up of the completed matting on the loom. The downturned ends are then trimmed off close to the lower surface of the matting, as indicated at g. The smaller end of the straw :l: a5, shown on the left-hand side of Fig. 5, owing to the action of the wire while the turn-in cord was operating, remains set in a position substantially as indicated, and the opposite end of the straw projects downwardly and slightly outwardly from between the selvagecord and the auxiliary cord d. The arrangement of the completed selvage is illustrated in perspective in Fig. 6, and it will be found that the selvage of the completed matting is smooth, strong, and compact.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A straw matting comprising fillingstrawsand the usual warp cords or threads, an auxiliary or supplemental thread or cord parallel to and between the selvagevand next adjacent warp cord or thread, and a turn-in thread parallel to the auxiliary or supplemental thread or cord7 the smaller ends of the filling-straws being passed around and under' the selvage warp cord or thread and IOO under and over the auxiliary and turn-inl thread respectively, and protruding out- Wardly from the body of the matting between the turn-in thread and the next adj acent body-warp.

2. A straw matting comprising fillingstraws and the usual warp cords or threads, an auxiliary or supplemental thread or cord parallel to and between the selvage and next adjacent warp cord or thread, and a turn-in thread parallel to the auxiliary or supplemental thread or cord, the smaller ends of the filling-straws being passed around and under the selvage warp cord or thread and under and over the auxiliary and turn-in threads, respectively, and being left with a set in the direction of the selvage-cord.

3. A straw matting comprising fillingstraws and the usual warp cords or threads, an auxiliary or supplemental thread or cord parallel to and between the selvage and the next adjacent warp cord or thread, and a turn-in thread parallel to the auxiliary or supplemental thread or cord, the smaller ends of the filling-straws being passed around and under the selvage warp cord or thread and under and over the auxiliary and turn-in thread, respectively, the said turned-in end being bound and held in place by the next ITO IIS

ISO

cord or thread, and a turn-in thread par` allel to and adjacent the auxiliary or supplemental thread or cord7 the smaller ends of theffilling-stra'ws being passed around and under the selvage Warp oord or thread and under and over the auxiliary and turn-,in

thread, respectively, the turned-in end ofthe filling-straw being free from interweaving "with the usualwarp cords or threads bex 5 tween the selvages, and being left with aset in the direction of the adjacent selVage-cord;

In testimony whereofk I have signed Iny name to this specication in thefpresence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

FREDRIOK E. ARROUQUIER. Witnesses JOHN D; KNoWLToN, G. H. KNOWLTON. 

